Steinborn faces GOP official in bout for senate

Since Jeff Steinborn’s election in 2016, Republicans have yet to find a suitable challenger to face the Las Cruces Democrat for New Mexico State Senate District 36. 

In two elections, Steinborn has beaten Republican candidates by near-20 percent margins. His district, which includes much of northern Las Cruces and extends all the way up to Hatch and Rincon, has consistently given the seven-year senator its stamp of approval. 

Now, Steinborn faces Republican David Tofsted, a veteran and county Republican Party official taking his turn to try and remove Steinborn.

Like all local Republican nominees for the statehouse, Tofsted faces an uphill battle. 

While Tofsted has raised more money than Steinborn, a review of campaign finance records shows that Tofsted loaned himself $23,000 – a significant chunk of his total $77,866.77 raised. Steinborn, on the other hand, has raised $68,707.47, mostly from individuals or other candidates.

The Bulletin contacted both candidates and asked them to complete a survey about their positions, the questions of which were generated by Bulletin readers. Tofsted did not fill out the survey, telling the Bulletin in an email, “I'm just getting too many things cropping up at once.”

Below are Steinborn's answers. 

Do you support the governor's public safety agenda as proposed in the 2024 special legislative session? Please explain your position.

I support thoughtful, effective legislation that continues to make New Mexico and our community safer. I will support:

1. Continued funding of law enforcement and first responder grants.
2. Increased funding for substance abuse and behavioral health services.
3. Thoughtful and effective legislative approaches to provide expeditious and effective adjudication of crimes.
   
   

What short-term and long-term solutions would you propose/support as a legislator to address concerns around crime in southern New Mexico? 

Same as above.

What solutions would you propose/support to improve the finances of New Mexico residents who experience higher prices of essential goods and stagnated wages?

We’ve kept more money in people’s pockets by cutting gross receipts and social security taxes, lowered health insurance costs, expanded child tax credits, increased affordable housing, lowered health insurance costs and raised the minimum wage. We need to continue to support New Mexicans by investing in quality economic development and job creation, investing in job training and broadband and going after companies that engage in price gouging.

What solutions would you propose/support to create more access to mental health resources, particularly for people accused of crimes, in southern New Mexico?

I sponsored legislation that made New Mexico the first state in the country to eliminate copays on mental health doctor visits and medication for many citizens. We need new policies to retain and recruit more doctors and providers to our community and state.

What solutions would you propose/support to access/restrict access to reproductive health, such as abortion?

I will continue to protect women’s reproductive rights and health care.

New Mexico has consistently ranked lower in education standings than the other 49 states. Why is this the case, and what steps would you take to improve education outcomes in New Mexico?

We’ve made a lot of progress in school funding and programs, including higher teacher salaries. We need to continue to be results-oriented, funding outcome-based solutions for New Mexico Schools.

What is the legislature's responsibility in addressing human-caused climate change in New Mexico – especially considering the state’s reliance on oil and gas to generate revenue for state government and employment opportunities?

We all have a responsibly to aggressively reduce our carbon emissions and confront and causes and impact of climate change. The state has a large role to play.